Austria AT
EU baseline plus strict Austrian extras: third-party liability insurance is mandatory for every drone regardless of weight, with a high minimum cover, and registration via Austro Control's Dronespace carries a fee.
Your plan
Choose your home country (top right) to see steps tailored to you.
2 things to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Austria
Registration (from 250 g or with a camera) is via Austro Control's Dronespace platform and carries a fee, unlike the free registration in several neighbouring states. Fee: 32 EUR (Reported as roughly €31–32; exact current fee should be confirmed on Dronespace at time of registration.). Allow about 1 day before your trip.
Open official page - Remote ID may apply
Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones.
- Carry liability insurance
Required (min. 750,000 SDR (approx. EUR 900,000–1,000,000)). Check that your policy covers flights in Austria.
- Bringing your drone in
Personal luggage from outside the EU: goods up to €430 (air/sea travel) or €300 (land travel) are duty- and VAT-free. Above that, customs duty (tariff-code dependent) and 20% VAT apply. Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100–160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares).
- Before each flight
Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight · Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people · Check the Dronespace map (green = fly, yellow = caution, red = restricted) before every flight
Open official page
Flying
- Max 120 m above ground, always in visual line of sight
- Never fly over crowds or assemblies of people
- Check the Dronespace map (green = fly, yellow = caution, red = restricted) before every flight
- Third-party liability insurance is mandatory for every drone regardless of weight, with minimum cover of 750,000 SDR (roughly €900,000–1,000,000) under §148 Luftfahrtgesetz
- Class-marked (C1/C2/C3) drones need a flashing green light at night
Commercial use: The Open category covers most low-risk commercial work. Riskier flights need an operational authorisation or a standard-scenario declaration in the Specific category via Austro Control.
Official airspace mapRegistration & classes
| Registration | Yes (from 250 g or camera) Registration (from 250 g or with a camera) is via Austro Control's Dronespace platform and carries a fee, unlike the free registration in several neighbouring states. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | Yes (online, from 250 g) EU A1/A3 online certificate. The EU A1/A3 online exam is free via Austro Control's portal, valid 5 years. The A2 certificate needs an in-person exam with Austro Control (reported fee around €43.20) plus separate paid training (roughly €70–300 depending on provider). |
| Remote ID | Some classes Direct Remote ID is required for C1, C2 and C3 class drones and in some geographical zones. |
| Insurance | Yes (min. 750,000 SDR (approx. EUR 900,000–1,000,000)) Mandatory for every drone regardless of weight or use (strict liability under §148 Luftfahrtgesetz), stricter than the EASA baseline and than most neighbouring states. |
| Foreign registration accepted | Depends EASA registrations and certificates are valid in every EASA state. Residents of non-EASA countries register in the first EASA state where they plan to fly. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| C0 | < 250 g | Subcategory A1: may overfly uninvolved people (never crowds). No test; register if it has a camera. |
| C1 | < 900 g | A1: avoid overflying people. A1/A3 certificate and Remote ID required. |
| C2 | < 4 kg | A2: 30 m from people (5 m in low-speed mode) with the A2 certificate; otherwise A3. |
| C3 / C4 | < 25 kg | A3 only: far from people and 150 m from residential, commercial and industrial areas. |
| No class mark | any | Under 250 g → A1. 250 g and more → A3 only (legacy transition ended 1 Jan 2024). |
Import & export
- Personal luggage from outside the EU: goods up to €430 (air/sea travel) or €300 (land travel) are duty- and VAT-free. Above that, customs duty (tariff-code dependent) and 20% VAT apply.
- CE marking is required for sale in Austria/EU; personal imports of non-CE radio equipment can be seized at customs.
- Batteries: Carry-on only. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100–160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares).
- No customs within the EU. The duty rate on drones from outside the EU depends on the tariff (HS) code.
Export
- EU dual-use regulation applies to professional drones with long range or high payload.
Costs
| Operator registration | 32 EUR · Reported as roughly €31–32; exact current fee should be confirmed on Dronespace at time of registration. Validity: Set nationally |
|---|---|
| EU A1/A3 online certificate | Unknown |
| Import taxes | ? % duty + 20 % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Start flying in Austria Residents
- Get liability insurance
Mandatory for every drone; minimum cover 750,000 SDR (roughly €900k–1M).
- Register on Dronespace
Register as an operator with Austro Control (fee applies) if your drone is 250 g+ or has a camera. Open
- Pass the A1/A3 test
Free online exam via Austro Control's portal, valid 5 years across the EU.
- Label your drone
Put your operator registration number on the drone.
- Check the Dronespace map before every flight
Confirm the zone colour (green/yellow/red) at your planned location. Open
Sources
- EASA – Civil drones (Open category) · accessed 23 Sept 2026
- Austro Control – Drone Licence / Dronespace · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Dronespace – official Austrian drone map and registration portal · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−10
- Pilot test (online)−10
- Remote ID−4
- Mandatory insurance−6
- Visitors must register locally−5
- Duty + VAT ≈ 25 %−15
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works